Duval's pro basketball path brings him back home to Delaware

Trevon Duval grew up in Delaware but played his high school and college ball elsewhere. He was back this week.
William Bretzger / Kevin Tresolini - The News Journal, Delaware News Journal

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Trevon Duval warms up before playing for the Wisconsin Herd against the Delaware Blue Coats in G-League action at the Bob Carpenter Center Wednesday as he works to make the Milwaukee Bucks squad full-time.(Photo: WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal)Buy Photo

One of the best basketball players Delaware has ever produced finally played a game in the First State on Wednesday night.

In his quest to reach his basketball potential, Trevon Duval and his family elected to take an out-of-state path through high schools in New Jersey, Texas and Florida.

That landed the New Castle resident at Duke University, where he was the starting point guard as a freshman last year.

While Duval wasn’t, somewhat surprisingly, chosen in June’s NBA draft, he did sign with Milwaukee as a two-way player, meaning he could shuttle back and forth between the Bucks and their NBA G League Wisconsin Herd team in Oshkosh.

Two-way players may spend up to 45 days on an NBA team’s roster, though Duval hasn’t been up to the Bucks yet.

Though he certainly would have preferred being in an NBA arena, Duval cherished the homecoming.

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Trevon Duval of the Wisconsin Herd (left) shoots over the Blue Coats' Norvel Pelle G-League play at the Bob Carpenter Center Wednesday as Duval works to make the Milwaukee Bucks squad full-time.(Photo: WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal)

“To play in the Bob is like, that’s been a dream of mine since I was in middle school, watching all of the high school players play here,” Duval said. “So to actually be able to play here is pretty cool.”

Delaware high school teams strive to make the DIAA state tournament quarterfinals, semifinals and finals played at the University of Delaware arena.

The 6-3, 190-pound Duval, 20, attended Sanford School, a frequent Carpenter Center visitor and state champ, from sixth through eighth grades and played on its middle school teams.

Then he was off to St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, New Jersey, where he spent his freshman and sophomore years and won a state championship while living with his AAU coach.

“It was really tough all throughout my high school career,” Duval confessed. “Me and my parents kinda banged heads when it came to me coming back home to play basketball, because that’s something I always wanted to do, play with my friends and play against my friends.

“Now I get the chance, so today’s a great day.”

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Trevon Duval of the Wisconsin Herd pays tribute to his Delaware roots in tattoo form on his leg.(Photo: WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal)

More than 20 friends and family members were on hand to see Duval. As a kid, he went to watch the then-Delaware 87ers play when he was younger.

“He’s very excited about being back home and playing here,” said his mother, Chaka.

Duval, with father Trevor joining him, moved to Dallas, Texas, and attended Advanced Preparatory International in 2015-16.

Despite first telling the coach he’d rather stay home, Duval then went to IMG Academy, a boarding school, in Florida for his senior year while earning McDonald’s All-American honors.

Trevor Duval said they felt Delaware high school basketball didn’t offer the necessary competition for Trevon when he was coming out of middle school, though he feels it would now.

“We had to go out and seek competition in other states,” Trevor Duval said.

Duval also exhibited his prodigious talents in various summer tournaments. He was considered a top-five prospect in his class when he signed with Duke in May of 2017.

“We had pros and cons,” Trevor Duval said. “He played at a high level against a lot of competition but he was away from his family, too.”

As point guard for the 29-8 Blue Devils last year, Duval started 34 games and averaged 10.8 points and 5.4 assists.

Many raved about his athletic ability. His 20 points and six assists led Duke in its season-ending 85-81 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight loss to Kansas.

But he was just a 29-percent shooter behind the 3-point arc and made only 59.6 percent of his free throws. Problems with turnovers also caused Duval to briefly lose his starting spot.

“Coach K was great,” Chaka said of Mike Krzyzewski. “ . . . It wasn’t the best fit for [Trevon] exactly.”

(Photo: The Associated Press)

With Duval being a slashing guard whose best ability is driving to the basket, some felt his skills didn’t ideally suit Duke, which had low-post standouts Marvin Bagley III and Wendell Carter stationed underneath.

“No regrets,” Duval said of his one year at Duke. “I say that just because I learned a lot from the situation on and off the court.

“I’ve grown a whole lot as player and a person. It may not have been the way I wanted to but I definitely improved. I got smarter. My body got better. I learned things from there but probably not the way I wanted it to go.”

Duval became the first Duke one-and-done player not to be chosen in the NBA draft. After playing with the Houston Rockets’ summer league team, he was signed by Milwaukee.

“He’s grateful for the opportunity,” Trevor Duval said. “ . . . Things didn’t work out as planned. He didn’t get drafted, but he’s still grateful and fortunate to be in a two-way position.”

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Trevon Duval of the Wisconsin Herd (left) takes on Blue Coats' Matt Farrell in G-League play at the Bob Carpenter Center Wednesday as Duval works to make the Milwaukee Bucks squad full-time.(Photo: WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal)

Against the Blue Coats, Duval started and played a game-high 37 minutes and 18 seconds. He scored 18 points, going 8-for-19 from the field, including 0-for-5 on threes, and 2-for-4 at the foul line in a 106-103 loss.

On the season, Duval is averaging 11.1 points per game while shooting 38.2 percent from the field, 30.3 percent on threes and 57.1 percent at the line. Most importantly, his father said, he’s getting a chance to improve his all-around game in the hopes of making the NBA.

If that doesn’t happen, an overseas career is always possible.

“I’m definitely enjoying the process and getting better each and every day,” Duval said. “I’ve been watching the Bucks and keeping up with them and their season of course. I’m ready whenever they need me. Right now, I’m worried about winning as [many] games as I can with the Herd and making it a good season.”

Duval has known DiVincenzo, 21, and remembers playing against him when they were in middle school in an AAU tournament. Seeing DiVincenzo’s success after having taken the traditional path doesn’t make Duval rue leaving Delaware.

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Trevon Duval of the Wisconsin Herd drives against the Blue Coats in G-League play at the Bob Carpenter Center Wednesday as he works to make the Milwaukee Bucks squad full-time. WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal

Trevon Duval of the Wisconsin Herd rushes to the basket while playing against the Capital City Go-Go at Menominee Nation Arena on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018. Jeannette Merten/for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 25: Trevon Duval #1 of the Duke Blue Devils handles the ball on offense against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 03: Trevon Duval #1 of the Duke Blue Devils passes the ball against Tariq Owens #11 of the St. John's Red Storm at Madison Square Garden on February 3, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) Getty Images

Duke's Trevon Duval (1) shoots as teammate Marques Bolden (20) watches and Kansas' Udoka Azubuike, left, and Marcus Garrett defend during the first half of a regional final game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Sunday, March 25, 2018, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) The Associated Press

Duke guard Trevon Duval (1) goes up to dunk against Notre Dame guard Matt Farrell (5) during the second half during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Atlantic Coast Conference men's tournament Thursday, March 8, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) The Associated Press

Trevon Duval of IMG Academy dunks in the first quarter against Montverde Academy in the semifinals of the 44th Annual Culligan City of Palms Classic at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in south Fort Myers. Amanda Inscore/The News-Press

Trevon Duval of the Wisconsin Herd (left) takes on Blue Coats' Matt Farrell in G-League play at the Bob Carpenter Center Wednesday as Duval works to make the Milwaukee Bucks squad full-time. WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal

Trevon Duval of the Wisconsin Herd (left) drives against the Blue Coats' Cory Jefferson in G-League play at the Bob Carpenter Center Wednesday as Duval works to make the Milwaukee Bucks squad full-time. WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal

Trevon Duval warms up before playing for the Wisconsin Herd against the Delaware Blue Coats in G-League action at the Bob Carpenter Center Wednesday as he works to make the Milwaukee Bucks squad full-time. WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 29: Trevon Duval #1of the boys east team goes to the basket during the 2017 McDonalds's All American Game on March 29, 2017 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The West Team won 109-107. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) David Banks, Getty Images

Trevon Duval of the Wisconsin Herd (left) shoots over the Blue Coats' Norvel Pelle G-League play at the Bob Carpenter Center Wednesday as Duval works to make the Milwaukee Bucks squad full-time. WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal